Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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2496. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a native woodland application by persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19306/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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An application for an afforestation licence was received in May 2020 for the persons named and has been referred to my Department’s Ecology Unit. The application site is near 10 designated sites including the Blackwater River (Kerry) SAC. Therefore, the impact of any afforestation operations on the sites and the surrounding area, must be carefully considered before deciding on the licence application.

If the applicants wishes they may provide a Natura Impact Statement (NIS). The NIS must be prepared by a suitably qualified person. An NIS can considerably reduce the time taken to assess the application, as once received, the NIS will be examined by an ecologist within two to three months and a decision will issue once the assessment of the application is complete.